Assessing the New Voter-ID Laws

Here’s a roundup of recent articles that assess the impact of voter ID laws in a variety of ways. The Moyers & Company researchers recommend these news articles to those of you wishing to delve more deeply into the voter ID story.

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Voter ID Laws
“Voter IDs laws have become a political flashpoint in what’s gearing up to be another close election year. Supporters say the laws — which 30 states have now enacted in some form — are needed to combat voter fraud, while critics see them as a tactic to disenfranchise voters. We’ve taken a step back to look at the facts behind the laws and break down the issues at the heart of the debate.” Suevon Lee, ProPublica

Legal Battles Erupt Over Tough Voter ID Laws
“A former hotel housekeeper, Ms. Applewhite, who never had a driver’s license, was suddenly without a Social Security card. Adopted and twice married, she had several name changes over the years, so obtaining new documents was complicated. As a result, with Pennsylvania now requiring a state-approved form of photo identification to vote, Ms. Applewhite, a supporter of President Obama, may be forced to sit out November’s election for the first time in decades.” Ethan Bronner, The New York Times

Taking a Freedom Ride Against Pennsylvania’s Voter ID
“I met up with forty people at Germantown’s Johnson House—a stop on the Underground Railroad that now runs youth programming on histories of protest—for a ‘Freedom Ride’ to Harrisburg. We shared stories, watched videos, belted out gospel songs and took a rest along our two-hour bus trip before spending the day at the capital, denouncing the voter ID law.” James Cersonsky, The Nation

Voter ID Laws Could Swing States
“Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Virginia and Wisconsin, all viewed as important states this fall, each have enacted stricter ID laws. Florida and Ohio have cut back on early voting. And a whole host of other states have passed new ID laws as well.” Emily Schultheis, Politico

Reporters Know What the ‘Voter ID’ Push Is Really About.
Why Don’t They Just Say So?
“For reporters to treat this issue like just another political squabble is journalistic malpractice. Indeed, relating the debate in value-neutral he-said-she-said language is actively helping spread the lie. After all, calling for someone to show ID before voting doesn’t sound pernicious to most people, even though it is. And raising the bogus issue of voter fraud at all stokes fear. “Even if you say there is no fraud, all people hear is ‘fraud fraud fraud’,” said Lawrence Norden, a lawyer at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law.” Dan Froomkin, The Huffington Post

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